Introduction
Singer Maurice Gibb of the global mega-band The Bee Gees, known for selling over 220 million records, collapsed in agony at his Miami home on Wednesday, January 8, 2003, and tragically died just four days later at the age of 53. According to those close to him, Maurice was seemingly fit and healthy, making his rapid decline a mystery. Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter investigated the autopsy report to uncover the cause of this sudden and unexpected death.
The report indicated that three weeks prior to his death, Maurice celebrated his 53rd birthday and appeared to be enjoying a semi-retired lifestyle, working on new music and collaborations. He was noted to be a healthy weight with a BMI of 22.6 and enjoyed an active hobby in paintball. However, the autopsy revealed a fresh surgical wound, indicating recent major surgery on his digestive system, and his vocal cords were swollen due to intubation, suggesting a medical emergency requiring breathing assistance.
Dr. Hunter’s investigation ruled out food poisoning, allergies, and peptic ulcers as likely causes of the initial severe abdominal pain that led to Maurice’s collapse. While Maurice was a heavy smoker, increasing his risk of stomach ulcers and atherosclerosis, the sudden onset of pain pointed more towards appendicitis. However, the autopsy report did not support this diagnosis. Toxicology reports showed recent cannabis use, but Dr. Hunter deemed it unlikely to be a direct cause of death, though he considered the possibility of other past drug use, noting his brother Andy Gibb’s fatal cocaine addiction. The autopsy showed no traces of cocaine at the time of Maurice’s death.
Another potential factor explored was alcohol, as Maurice had a history of heavy drinking. While he had periods of sobriety, the autopsy revealed a liver of normal weight with no signs of fatty liver disease or cirrhosis, indicating he was sober at the time of his death and his liver had not suffered long-term damage.
Ultimately, the exploratory surgery revealed the cause of Maurice’s initial agony: a rare congenital condition called malrotation of the small intestine. This condition, present since birth, caused his intestine to twist, cutting off blood flow. Surgeons acted quickly to remove the affected portion of his intestine. While the surgery was initially deemed successful and Maurice showed some signs of recovery, his condition worsened, leading to cardiac arrest on January 9th. Despite resuscitation, he suffered brain damage due to lack of oxygen (anoxia) and was placed on life support. Tragically, Maurice Gibb passed away on January 12, 2003.
Dr. Hunter concluded that Maurice’s death was due to septic shock. The twisted intestine, a significant portion of which (almost 16 feet) died due to lack of blood flow, likely led to a rupture. This allowed bacteria from his gut to leak into his abdominal cavity and bloodstream, causing a toxic reaction. His heart, possibly weakened by atherosclerosis from smoking, struggled to pump blood, leading to cardiac arrest. The anoxia in his brain was attributed to the septic shock and reduced oxygenation, not a delay in resuscitation, though his brothers initially made such allegations before retracting them upon learning the true nature of his condition. Maurice Gibb had unknowingly lived with a life-threatening abnormality that was only discovered in its final stages. Ironically, the later diagnosis of this rare condition in his twin brother Robin helped save Robin’s life in 2010.